Athens, Alabama, March 16, 1864.

 

My Dear Sister:

                        Some three or four days since your letter of March 5^th was received, and yesterday there came one from mother of date of the 9^th. Pressure of duty and the coldness of the weather rendering it very uncomfortable to write in an unwarmed tent, have prevented an earlier answer. For the past two or three days the weather has been very blustering and cool. Last night there was a slight snow squall and ice formed nearly an inch thick. It is very uncommon weather for March in this latitude. Were it not that the weather is dry, peaches and cherries would be all killed here, for the trees are in bloom. Such weather will hardly last more than / a day or two however.

 

            For the past two or three weeks we have had a good deal of duty to do. We were the only regiment here, and with picket duty, camp and provost guard, and foraging, most of our time was occupied. But now another regiment relieves us from the picket guard, and we shall have easier times. Drill however will probably occupy considerable attention.

 

            You ask if any that you know got into office when we reorganized. We did not reorganize. Our non-commissioned officers remain the same since those who did not reenlist have returned, with one exception. One of our old Sergeants who did not reenlist resigned, and the 1^st Corporal was promoted to a Sergeant, and my partner Jno. Stewart was appointed Corporal. Brough's new rule with regard to pro- / motions, that they must go by rank is also to be followed in regard to promotion of non-commissioned officers. This rule will knock endways all our calculations with regard to officers. Our old Captain has resigned, but as Mr. Rice is only 2^nd Lieut. he cannot be appointed Captain. Our 1^st Lieut. now commands the Company. Who will be our Captain I know not.

 

            I attended service at the Presbyterian Church last Sabbath morning, and again listened to an excellent sermon. Our Chaplain preaches in the Methodist Church in the afternoon. He is pretty favorably received by the regiment, and I think will prove an efficient man. We have prayer meeting on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

 

            The occupation of Decatur gives a new opportunity for the enlistment of colored soldiers, and companies are being / rapidly organized there. All the able bodied men are taken. A good many refugees white refugees from the conscription are lying about in the woods and swamps and will come into our lines and join our army at the first opportunity.

 

            I am surprised that the rebels made no greater attempt to oppose our crossing at Decatur. They might have made a serious opposition. A dense fog aided us much, and enabled our boats to approach quite near the rebel shore before they were discovered, and then everything was in a panic. The pickets fired six or eight shots, and then skedaddled. One of the 63^d was slightly wounded and the same ball passed through Col. Sprague's coat tail.

 

            A pontoon will soon be built across the river, which is quite wide at Decatur.

 

            There is considerable sickness amongst the men, mostly amongst the new recruits. Some 10 or 12 of the 63^d have died, but we have lost none. Measles and pneumonia are the principal diseases. My own health is as good as ever.

 

            Trains run rather irregularly. Every two or three days some train runs off and smashes up in consequence of the bad state of the road. Somehow it happens that nobody gets killed. The last train ran off in consequence of the trestle being cut by a small band of guerrillas.

                                   

Write often to

Your aff. brother

SOURCES